Owner of Chelsea FC, Roman Abramovich has put the club up for sale at a minimum of £3billion.
Gatekeepers News reports that although the Russian oligarch wants to sell the English Club at £3billion, there are emerging doubts that the he will receive anywhere near that mark.
There is an intuition that securing an American buyer, potentially through a hedge fund, might be the best route towards a sale. Abramovich’s links with a Russian regime that has caused so much destruction in Ukraine could however lead to reluctance from interested parties to deal with the European Champions.
Meanwhile, Swiss billionaire Hansjorg Wyss, worth £4.3bn, claims he has been approached to consider buying Chelsea, potentially as part of a consortium.
Wyss said, “Like all other oligarchs, he (Abramovich) is also in a panic. Abramovich is trying to sell all his villas in England. He also wants to get rid of Chelsea quickly. I and three other people received an offer on Tuesday to buy Chelsea from Abramovich.
“I have to wait four to five days now. Abramovich is currently asking far too much. You know, Chelsea owe him £2bn.
“As of today, we don’t know the exact selling price. I can well imagine starting at Chelsea with partners. But I have to examine the general conditions first. But what I can already say: I’m definitely not doing something like this alone. If I buy Chelsea, then with a consortium consisting of six to seven investors.”
There’s, however, doubt if a consortium style takeover would have longevity given the huge financial demands expected at a club the size of Chelsea.
Nevertheless, Abramovich plans to exit Chelsea is clearer now.
On Tuesday, reports revealed that Abramovich is trying to sell his portfolio of London properties.
It was also learnt that the Russian oligarch has spent time in the United Arab Emirates in recent weeks with a view to transferring part of his wealth there.
